Published 21 Aug 2025
S4. Ep 13. Talking with Richard Austin about Leading High-Performance Teams Without Being the Technical Expert
G'day legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast!
I sat down with Richard Austin, CEO of Omnii,one of Australia’s leading fire engineering and services consultancies. But this chat isn’t really about fire… it’s about people.
Richard’s leadership journey spans travel, insurance, finance, and now construction, and here’s the kicker: he’s not a technical expert in any of those fields. Instead, he brings a razor-sharp, people-first mindset that’s all about aligning strategy, culture, and performance.
We dig into how he steps into new industries and quickly builds trust, sets clear direction, and creates aligned, high-performing teams. No fluff, just smart, practical leadership thinking.
Takeaways:
- ✅How Richard leads without being a technical expert
- ✅Aligning strategy, culture, and performance
- ✅Creating clarity and trust in new environments
- ✅Why wellbeing and communication are business essentials
- ✅Rethinking hiring, team dynamics, and leadership style
Chapters:
- 05:07 – Richard Austin’s Career Journey
- 06:35 – Transferring Skills Across Industries
- 10:06 – Deliberate Leadership and Organisational Goals
- 12:32 – Understanding Business Performance
- 16:13 – Behavioural Assessments in Leadership
- 21:53 – Applying Sports Science to Business Leadership
- 23:09 – Understanding Team Dynamics
- 29:10 – Recruiting for Team Compatibility
- 35:31 – Supporting Employee Development
- 38:27 – The Role of Managers in Employee Success
- 43:10 – Structuring Leadership and Management
- 45:35 – Richard’s Perspective on the Construction Industry
- 47:46 – Brisbane’s Engineering Success Story
- 49:35 – Challenges of Leading Technical Teams
- 52:25 – Learning to Lead: Skills for CEOs
- 56:47 – Recruitment Strategies in a Competitive Market
- 01:00:55 – Assessing Overseas Talent for Cultural Fit
- 01:08:08 – The Importance of Training and Development
- 01:13:32 – Mental Health and Physical Fitness in Performance
- 01:19:11 – Setting Goals and Overcoming Challenges
If you’re a team leader, people manager, or business owner, or you want to be, this episode is full of smart takeaways you’ll use.
Hope you enjoy the podcast!
#LeadershipInConstruction #ConstructionCEO #TeamPerformance #FireEngineering #OmniiGroup #CultureAndStrategy #ConstructionLeadership #RecruitmentStrategy #WorkplaceWellbeing #BehaviouralLeadership #ConstructionCareers #HighPerformanceTeams #HiringInConstruction #LeadershipWithoutLimits #BuildingTalksPodcast
The views and information shared in this podcast are for general purposes only and do not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither the host nor the guests are providing specific guidance. Please seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this podcast.
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Building Talks Podcast
Talking to professionals in construction, property development, architecture, and beyond.
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